Crane hook with reaction jet orienting means



Feb. 28, 1956 A. .1. CARLSON 2,735,600

CRANE HOOK WITH REACTION JET ORIENTING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 25, 1952 n m v2 0 m m M A m m 1 0 W. .W%\ J. M .93

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.CRANE HOOK WITH REACTION JET ORIENTING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 25, 1952 Arthur J. Gar/son INVENTOR.

United States Patent CRANE HOOK WITH REACTION JET ORIENTING MEANS Arthur J. Carlson, Toledo, Oreg.

Application September 23, 1952, Serial No. 311,037

6 Claims. (Cl. 294-88) This invention relates to a crane hook and particularly to a power operated hook to be utilized at the end of a crane line for picking up and handling objects under automatic power control.

In the operation of cranes it is desirable to be able to lower the hook into any predetermined grabbing relation and then to cause the hook to close without moving its position otherwise.

This is accomplished according to the present invention by providing a hook device which may be swivelly supported on the end of a crane line and having power means for closing the hook and also power means to rotate or otherwise move the hook into the desired position before the hook members are closed.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved power hook.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a power hook having power means for locating the hook as desired.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a hook which may be located and the hook closed without moving the position of the hook.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partially broken away and in section of a crane utilizing a power hook (on an enlarged scale) according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the power hook;

Figure 3 is a cross-section through the hook taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure l and showing the relation of the parts therein;

Figure 4 is a still further enlarged sectional elevation of the electrical control valve taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation through the control jets taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 55 of Figure 1.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention a vehicle is provided with endless tracks 12 for propelling the vehicle as may be desired. A swivel base 14 is mounted on the vehicle 10 and supports a crane superstructure 16 thereon. A crane boom 18 is swivelly supported on the superstructure 16 and the elevation thereof is controlled by means of elevator cables 20 controlled in the usual manner by a motor, not shown.

A crane line 22 extends over a pulley 24 at the upper end of the boom 18 and is provided at the end thereof with a swivel 26. The line 22 being payed out as is customary in crane constructions.

The hook construction according to the invention comprises a framework utilizing a plurality of substantially parallel longitudinally extending frame members 32 to which are connected tapered frame members 34 with the longitudinal and tapered frame members being arranged in substantially annular construction.

The sloping frame members 34 are preferably united and welded or otherwise secured to a ring 36 for connection to the swivel 26 by any suitable means such as a link 38. The frame 30 is provided with one or more spider members 40 having a central hub 42 for receiving a power cylinder 44. Additional spiders of various sizes and shapes such as the head spider 46 may be utilized to connect the cylinder head 48 to the sloping members 34. Likewise, a spider hub 50 may be threadedly connected to provide an end member for the cylinder 44 and have connected therein a bushing member 52. A cylinder head 54 is mounted for reciprocable movement in the cylinder 44 and has a piston rod 56 extending longitudinally through the bushing 52 and may if desired be mounted into a guide spider 58 mounted on a supplementary spider 60. A shock absorbing spring 62 is preferably mounted in the lower end of the cylinder 44 and in surrounding relation to the piston rod 56 to cushion the contact of the piston 54 with the lower head 50 of the cylinder 44. Likewise, a spring 64 is preferably mounted on the lower end of the piston rod 56 and contacts a collar 66 so that the spring 64 is retained between the collar 66 and the guide spider 58.

Preferably the hookframe 30 is provided with an outer covering 68 which has a central portion of substantially cylindrical formation mounted on the longitudinal members 32 and a tapering portion or conical portions 70 mounted on the sloping members 34.

A diametrical pair of the longitudinal members 32 are provided with longitudinal extensions 72 which terminate in bearing members 74. Opposed load control members 76 and 78 are mounted in the bearings 74 of the longitudinally extending extensions 72 and are of any desired shape desirable to pick up a load or other object.

Obviously the load lifting members 76 and 78, hereinafter called hooks, may be of any desired formation, and are herein illustrated as opposed chisel-shaped edges. However, it will be apparent that the opposed edges may be either straight bars, portions of a circle or segments of a cylinder, or even opposed halves of a clam shell bucket or other suitable bucket.

, Actuating bars 80 and 82 are mounted rigidly on the hooks 76 and 78, respectively, and extend inwardly of the hook construction. The ends of the members 80 and 82 are provided with longitudinal slots 84 and 86, respectively, adapted to engage a pin 88 in the flat end 90 of the piston rod 56. It will thus be seen that the hook members are substantially bell cranks driven by the piston rod 56 which will be power operated as will presently be described.

A fluid conduit 92 extends from the superstructure 16 along the boom 18 and is mounted in suitable sheaves 94 so that the fluid pressure line 92 may be played out or taken in along with the lifting line 22 connected to the hook by means of the swivel 26.

An' electrical cable 96 extends through the passage in the fluid pressure line 92 and has a plurality of electrical conductors therein for connecting in operating relation to various valves presently to be described.

The fluid pressure line 92 is provided with a terminal member 100 having a bushing 102 for withdrawing the electrical cable therefrom. An auxiliary conduit or line 104 extends downwardly inside of the shell 70 and 68 of the hook body and is connected to each end of the cylinder 44 by means of suitable control valves 106 and 108, each of the control valves 106 and 108 is provided with a valve body 110 having a passage 112 communicating with the interior of the piston adjacent one end thereof. The auxiliary line 104 communicateswith a manifold portion 114 and a second outlet manifold portion 116 is provided with an outlet opening 118. A movable valve 120 closes the manifold portions 114 and 116 aswill presently be described.

A solenoid 122 is mounted on the body by means of a suitable housing 124. A plunger 126 is connected to the valve member and is provided with a biasing spring 123 so that the valve member 121 is biased by the spring 128 so that it is constantly urged into closing relation with the inlet manifold chamber 114. The valve member 120 being provided with an aperture 130 which normally communicates with the outlet portion 116 and thereby through the outlet port 113 so that the interior of the piston 44 is normally vented through the aperture 130 and the passage 118 to the exterior atmosphere or other surrounding medium as may be desired. Suitable electrical connections 132 and 134 are provided with solenoid 122 and conductors 136 and 13% carried in the cable 96 are suitably connected to the terminals 132 and 134 sothat the solenoid 122 may be energized by any suitable control device mounted in the superstructure 16. The control herein being indicated as a joy stick 140.

The auxiliary fluid passage 104 is connected to an auxiliary passage 142 which is in turn connected to an annular conduit 144. Opposed reaction jets 146 and 148 are mounted on the annular passage 144 and have a manifold chamber 15% therein the manifold chamber 159 communicating with the annular passage 144 by means of the connection 152. Gate members 154 and 156 are placed between the manifold chamber and the jets 146 and 148. Solenoid members 158 and 160 are mounted on the jet members 146 and 148 respectively and have plungers 162 and 164 connected to the gates 154 and 156 respectively. Spring members 166 and 168 resiliently urge the gates 154 and 156 to closed position. The solenoids 158 and 160 are connected by means of suitable electrical conductors 170 to the control mechanism 140. Preferably a plurality of the reaction jets 146 and 148- will be distributed around the periphery of the body of the hook and may be protected by means of ashroud ring 172 which may be rigidly mounted by means of brackets 174. The shroud ring 172 must be maintained at a low enough position so that the top thereof does not interfere in any way with the reaction jet from the jet members 146 and 14S. Likewise, a shroud member 176 may be placed on the body 68 and extend downwardly over the solenoids 158 and 160 to prevent mechanical injury thereto when the hook is dropped into various working media As is well known, the flow of fluid under pressure through a jet opening produces a reaction tending to propel the jet structure away from the stream of fluid. For example, if one or all of the jets 146 are operated, the ring 144 and all the attached structure will rotate anticlockwise and if instead a jet or jets 14% are operated, the device will rotate clockwise. Also, if a jet 1% and 148 are operated, the device will be moved laterally with the maximum lateral force being exerted when diametrically opposite jets 146 and 148- are utilized. Also, it will be apparent that certain of the jets 14d and 148 may be utilized for moving the device laterally while other jets 146 or 148 may be utilized for steering purposes.

In the operation of the device according to the invention the hook member will be dropped by means of the supporting cable 22 played out of the conduit 92 together with the enciosed cable 96 so that the hook member will be substantially in the location where it is desired to connect to some object to be lifted. The jets 146 and 148 will be selectively energized to propel the hook body into any desired position with respect to the material to be lifted. The hooks will then be opened by admitting fluid into the top of the piston 44 so that the hooks may be lowered into any desired relation with the material to be lifted. Power will then be admitted to the bottom portion of the cylinder 44 lifting the piston rod 56 and causing the hook members to engage with the material to be lifted.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a hook body which may be lowered and traversed as desired or rotated at will so that the hook members may be brought into proper engagement with the material to be lifted and that the hooks may then be readily forced into engagement with the material without disturbing the location of the hook body.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described according to the best present understanding thereof it will be apparent that the arrangement and construction of parts therein may be changed at will without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A power operated crane hook comprising a frame including a plurality of longitudinally extending frame members, said longitudinally extending frame members being spaced apart at one end and meeting in an apex at the other, a fluid cylinder mounted axially in said frame, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod projectile out of said cylinder, radial brace members extending between said frame members and said cylinder, a pair of hook members journaled in opposed spaced relation adjacent the open end of said frame, inwardly directed actuating arms on said hooks, said piston rod being operatively connected to said arms, a source of fluid under pressure, valve means controlling the admission of fluid from. said source into said cylinder, 21 housing enclosing said frame, a plurality of reaction jets mounted on the exterior ofsaid frame and directed tangentially thereto, conduit means connecting said reaction jets to said source of fluid under pressure, and valve means operable to selectively apply fluid to said reaction jets.

2. A power operated crane hook comprising a frame including a plurality of longitudinally extending frame members, said longitudinally extending frame members being spaced apart at one end and meeting in an apex at the other, a fluid cylinder mounted axially in said frame, a piston in said cylinder, apiston rod projectile out of said cylinder, radial brace members extending between said frame members and said cylinder, 21 pair of hook members journ-a'led in opposed spaced relation adjacent the open end of said frame, inwardly directed actuating arms on said hooks, said piston rod being operatively connected to said arms, a source of fluid under pressure, valve means controlling the admission of fluid from said source into said cylinder, said valve means including an inlet and an outlet port, gate means selectively closing said ports, biasing means urging said gate means into closing relation with said inlet port, a solenoid, a plunger in said solenoid, said plunger being operatively connected to said gate means, an electrical control circuit connected to said solenoid, said circuit including a selective switch means, and force means on said frame in controlled communication with said source of fluid under pressure for providing rotary and lateral movement to said hook.

3. A power operated crane hook comprising a frame including a plurality of longitudinally extending frame members, said longitudinally extending frame members being spaced apart at one end and meeting in an apex at the other, a fluid cylinder mounted axially in said frame, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod projectile out of said cylinder, radial brace members extending between said frame members and said cylinder, an opposed pair of said longitudinal frame members extending below said frame, a pair of hook members journaled on said extending members, inwardly directed arms fixed on said hook members, said piston rod extending between said arms, said arms having longitudinal slots therein, a pin fixed in said piston rod and engaged in said slots, 2. source of fi'uid' under pressure, a valve for selectively controlling fluid flow into each end of said cylinder, each of said valve means including an inlet and an outlet port, gate means selectively closing said ports, biasing means urging said gate means into closing relation with said inlet port, a solenoid, a plunger in said solenoid said plunger being operatively connected to said gate means, an electrical control circuit connected to said solenoid, said circuit including switch means operative to selectively energize said solenoid, and force means on said frame in controlled communication Wlfll said source of fiuid under pressure for providing rotary and lateral movement to said book.

4. A power operated crane hook comprising a frame including a plurality of longitudinally extending frame members, said longitudinally extending frame members being spaced apart at one end and meeting in an apex at the other, a fluid cylinder mounted axially in said frame, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod projectile out of said cylinder, radial brace members extending between said frame members and said cylinder, an opposed pair of said longitudinal frame members extending below said frame, a pair of hook members journaled on said extending members, inwardly directed arms fixed on said hook members, said piston rod extending between said arms, said arms having longitudinal slots therein, a pin fixed in said piston rod and engaged in said slots, a source of fluid under pressure, a valve for selectively controlling fluid flow into each end of said cylinder, a pair of opposed reaction jets mounted on said frame and arranged tangentially thereto, means including a valve for supplying fluid from said source to each of said jets, biasing means urging each of said valves to closed position, electro-magnetic means operable to open said valves, and electric circuit means including control switches for selectively energizing said electro-magnetic means.

5. A power operated crane hook comprising a substantially cylindrical body, a suspension member swivelly connected to the top of said body, a pair of opposed hooks mounted on said body, a pair of opposed reaction jets mounted on the exterior of said body and arranged tangentially thereto, a source of fluid under pressure, conduit means including valve means for applying fluid from said source to each of said jets, biasing means urging each of said valves to closed position, electro-magnetic operating means for each of said valve means, electric circuit means including control switch means for selectively energizing said electro-magnetic means.

6. A power operated crane hook comprising a substantially cylindrical body, a suspension member swivelly connected to the top of said body, a material engaging assembly mounted on said body, opposed reaction jets mounted on said body, a source of fluid under pressure, conduit means including valve control means for applying fluid from said source of fluid under pressure to said jets, and valve controlling means controlling fluid communication between said source of fluid pressure into said reaction jets for providing rotary and lateral movement to said crane hook.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 584,880 Knox June 22, 1897 892,454 Ronstrom July 7, 1908 1,933,226 Smith Oct. 31, 1933 2,353,765 Mathisen July 18, 1944 2,356,134 Voit Aug. 22, 1944 2,616,370 Foster Nov. 4, 1952 2,649,804 Kennedy Aug. 25, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 135,665 England Dec. 4, 1919 

